Teva Originals: Don’t Call it a Comeback

Trail | July 3, 2013

The original Teva sandal was born In the Grand Canyon over thirty years ago as a pair of doctored flip-flops became the norm for guides and their guests alike floating down the river. “The Teva sandal was iconic in the birth of the outdoor industry. Over the years we built on it, added technology and ended up accomplishing all the same things as the original with more functionality. However, through that we lost some of that simple, clean aesthetic that we originally had,” said Lucas Martinez, a member of our creative team. Now the Teva Original sandal is back with a vengeance and no longer attached to the stigma of just hippies—or even your dad— wearing socks with sandals.

This summer we see the re-launch of the Teva Original sandals with all the trappings you’d expect along with some fun and funky colorways to boot. “They were almost a faux pas in fashion and now they’re being accepted and celebrated again. We’ve been here all along.” added Martinez. “We consider that sandal the most important utilitarian piece of adventure equipment you can put on your feet. There are so many miles of rivers and trails that have been tackled in those sandals.” You’re likely to see more of these styles as more and more people pound the pavement and walk the runway in these iconic sandals. We think LL Cool J said it best: “Don’t call it a comeback; we’ve been here for years!”

This weekend I was ambling along a path towards a riverbed. The sun was shining brightly, a soft breeze was blowing, my trusty Tevas were on my feet. All was right with the world. A shadow fell upon my day when after a mere 25 years, the glue on one of my tevas lost some integrity and I was left with a flopping sandal. Life is good once again now that my local cobbler took both Tevas and made them like new again by redoing the glue. You guys rock at making awesome shoes that keep going and going! Thanks!

We love this story from Teva fan Elizabeth Vera, 21, an outdoors enthusiast living in West Texas. She was on her way to hike the Guadalupe Mountains when she spotted some beautiful blue salt flats and decided to take a pit stop. Read more

The first time Seattle-native Camille Willemain, 26, touched down in Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica, she had plans to settle down in a cabin and finish her graduate school applications. Two years later and she’s still traveling, but Puerto Viejo is still the one place she calls “home.” Read more

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